By – Ashwini
Release Date : 7 October 2016 (Worldwide)
Cast : Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher, Om Puri
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Written: Gulzar
Cinematography: Paweł Dyllus
Producer: Rohit Khattar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, P.S. Bharathi, Ravi Tandon
Mirzya is shrouded in secrecy, and very little about the movie has been given out on the promotional trail. It will have a worldwide release on October 7. Harshvardhan Kapoor, Anil Kapoor’s son, turns a warrior in this epic love story based film, Mirzya. Harshwardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher debut in Mirzya.
Mirzya is a contemporary tale, a today’s love tragedy based in 2015. It’s inspired by the folklore of Mirza and Sahiban, which explores why Sahiban betrayed Mirza and then killed herself. There are three levels in the film which are connected – there is a storyteller, there’s the story, and there is an echo of the same story in today’s world.
Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, director of hits such as Rang de Basanti and Bhaag Milka Bhaag, speaks of his first attempt at a musical love story. Rakeysh’s inspiration to do this film goes back to his college days when he read the playwright in his college drama society. “At the end of the play, someone would say, ‘Sahiban ne teer kyon todi’ (Why did Sahiban break the arrow?). This stayed on with me for over 30 years. “The film doesn’t give a very normal explanation of love; it is not about boy meets girl or they separate and meet again, or die. Sahiban broke Mirza’s arrow, and as a result, he couldn’t fight, and he lost his life.”
Mirza Sahiban is one of four popular tragic romances of Punjab. Other three being Heer Ranjha, Sohni Mahiwal & Sassi Punnun. Mirza Sahiban is the only love story where the heroine ends up sacrificing her love to save her family.
Mirzya, a tale of star-crossed lovers, plays out in two parallel worlds, unfolding through the movie — one real and one fantastical. In the tale of 2015, Harshvardhan plays a role of a guy who had a traumatic experience as a child and is separated from his girl. There’s a vulnerable, rustic, mysterious quality in Adil, a Rajasthan stable boy and polo player. He comes back, but she doesn’t know it’s him. And in the folk tale going parallelly, the entire saga of Mirza and his ladylove Sahibaan unfolds without dialogues; no words were exchanged between the two lovers.
Set in Rajasthan, the breathtaking and stunning locations in the movie is due to the tenacity of Rakesh Omprakash Mehra and the Mirzya crew who went over 50 palaces to decide on 2 palaces for the shoot.
Gulzar returned to screenplay writing for a film after almost 17 years, with Mirzya.
Mirzya explores the idea of love, an element of sacrifice, the role of jealousy and possessiveness.
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